Dad Brooks took care of her eyes, so Ethan Carter's bedroom was very dimly lit. This photo was taken when she first entered high school; at that time, Ethan Carter's eyes were repeatedly infected and couldn't be exposed to any strong light. So the teacher had her cover her eyes with a white cloth for the photo, and then someone helped Photoshop a pair of eyes onto her.
Anyone who has been to school knows how terrifying the school's photography skills are.
Back then, Photoshop was nowhere near as advanced as it would be a few years later. The eyes looked lifeless, the colors didn't match, and the whole thing was extremely awkward. Even Ethan Carter herself was startled.
So after looking at it for a long time, from the first year to the second year of high school, all the classmates thought that even if Ethan Carter's eyes got better, she would still look like the photo on her student ID.
Ethan Carter carefully put it into her backpack, not at all disgusted by it. She just missed her teachers and classmates a little.
Author's note: Meng · fake blind girl · little mute · pitiful · Ethan.
At first, everyone: Ethan Carter is so pitiful, both her parents are gone, her eyes ended up like that, and she even looks...
Later—
Meng · real goddess · great beauty · all-rounder · Ethan facing everyone's sympathetic gazes.
Everyone: ...
☆ Little Mute
The next day was Friday.
After Ethan Carter finished her milk, Chris Brooks checked her eyes as usual. Then he said, "From now on, Dad can only come back on weekends to cook for you. The research institute is very busy. Little Ethan and Ryan Brooks, can you eat at school from now on?"
Ryan Brooks responded with a sound.
Ethan Carter also nodded.
Chris Brooks added, "Ryan Brooks, take good care of Little Ethan, okay? She's your older sister, her eyes aren't convenient, and you're in the same grade. Don't let anyone bully her."
Ryan Brooks said, "She doesn't need me to take care of her."
"This kid..."
Chris Brooks was a bit embarrassed, then pulled Ethan Carter over and apologized, "Little Ethan, don't take it to heart."
Ethan Carter smiled and said, "I won't. Ryan Brooks is tough on the outside but soft on the inside."
Chris Brooks was a little embarrassed: "Dad Brooks needs to trouble you with something."
"Xiao Lan didn't come home last night. She said she was sleeping over at a classmate's house. She's grown up now, and there are a lot of things I can't control. I'm afraid that at school..." He paused, then sighed as he thought of his daughter. "I'm afraid she'll get into a relationship too early and go down the wrong path. You're so well-behaved and sensible, could you teach her more?"
Ethan Carter still minded that Lily Brooks had let her die in her past life.
If it hadn't been for Lily Brooks untying that rope, she wouldn't have died. What's more, she had risked her life to go down in search of her missing stepbrother after the landslide. She never figured out why Lily Brooks untied the rope, but there was always a thorn in her heart.
However, looking at the man in front of her, whose hair was graying from debt for his children, Ethan Carter couldn't say anything in the end and just nodded.
Ethan Carter and Ryan Brooks walked to school one after the other.
They were both in the second year at No. 7 High School, Ethan Carter in Class 1, Ryan Brooks in Class 2.
Both of them were top of their classes.
Ethan Carter looked at the slender figure of the boy ahead. After her burns, it was Ryan Brooks and Dad Brooks who insisted she get treatment. They had never given up on her.
Ryan Brooks's figure grew farther and farther away. Before crossing the street, he turned to look at Ethan Carter, stopped, and silently waited for her.
At 7:45, they arrived at school together, then quietly walked into their respective classrooms.
As soon as Ethan Carter entered, many people in the class greeted her.
"Good morning, Ethan Carter."
"Good morning."
This year, Ethan Carter was the English class representative.
Everyone knew she had an unfortunate family background—she and her mother were in a car accident, her mother died, and she lost her sight. But because her grades were outstanding, she was recommended by her middle school to No. 7 High. She came first in every exam, except for the one she missed due to surgery. She was basically a model of inspiration.
So when she came to school with a white cane and sunglasses, no one laughed at her. In fact, everyone was very friendly to her from the start.
Her deskmate was a boy with glasses. Shy and reserved, he usually didn't interact with the class, studied hard, but his grades just wouldn't improve.
The girl in front turned around excitedly: "Little Ethan, you're here!"
Ethan Carter curved her lips in a smile, a little nostalgic, her tone as gentle as a March breeze: "Emma Clark."
Emma Clark helped smooth out her hair, which had been tousled by the morning wind, and couldn't help but lower her voice to Ethan Carter: "Little Ethan, remember to apply for the scholarship, the forms have been handed out." She knew Ethan Carter's family situation wasn't good and felt sorry for this tough girl.
"Okay."
The first class was with the homeroom teacher, Ms. Emily Harris, who taught Chinese and was knowledgeable and elegant.
Ethan Carter listened carefully to the familiar material, slowly taking notes.
Her hand was unfamiliar with holding a pen, but she was especially earnest.
The boy next to her, Mark Reed, couldn't help but peek at what she was writing. Eager to learn, he was anxious that his grades wouldn't improve, and since the top student was right next to him, he couldn't help but "secretly learn from her."
Ethan Carter noticed his gaze and moved her book so he could see.
Her clean and gentle demeanor made David Reed feel embarrassed instead. He thought, no wonder so many people think Ethan Carter is a good person—she really is gentle and lovely.
After one class, Ethan Carter finally started to feel like she was really in high school again.
That year, No. 7 High didn't have much money, so the desks and fans were old. The chairs were unstable and creaked with every movement.
The only brand-new thing in the classroom was the multimedia blackboard at the front.